Hello, Everyone...

[Aaron H]

...I would like to know if anyone else
was having the same trouble with getting
their colony to grow I have had one pair
for the last three years.
The ASY male has came back to his same
gourd now for the past three seasons he has a
new mate again this year,
he seems to be content with not having other
martins around.
Last year I had the pair plus one extra SY male
most all season, plus their was 6 more SY males &
females that would show up and stay just about all
day every day
but I haven't seen any other action so far this season
but my one pair. I sure was hoping to get a few more
pairs by now.
if anyone has any ideal what is going on with my colony
i would like to hear your thoughts.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

My guess is that your housing is too close to trees. The one male thinks its safe, but strangers don't.

Another thing that it could be is that there are not many martins in your area looking for a new home,

or it could be that they don't like your housing. Normally martins in the south perfer gourds with tunnels and porches. our martins like the gourds with tunnels and porches the very best

[Aaron H]

Thanks, Emil for your quick reply.
I use most all natural gourds that are 10
inches deep some have tunnels and
porches, i also use some without any
tunnels but i have a porch on them
all my gourds have crescent openings.
As for the area around the martin pole the area
is pretty open the nearest tree is a dogwood that
is about the same height as the martin poles the
dogwood is about 35 feet from the gourds.
the martins love to set in the top of the dogwood
and get leaves for their nest.
As for as any big trees the nearest one would be
150 feet away.
I have a lot of good fly ways for the martins.
I keep all trash birds out of the gourds the
martins don't have any trouble with that.
Their are at least four other colonys with in a mile
of me I'm not sure how big they are but i know that
one has a low number of birds at it.
thanks for your reply on this I sure would like to
see my colony grow.

[DornCounty]

some have suggested putting up a couple gourds or a cheaper house close to your main housing, but far enough away the lone martin won't control them.

[Aaron H]

Thanks,...Dorn for your response to my
questions I will give it a try.
Hope you have a great martin season.